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NAACP and Bush mend some fences

The president reaches out to blacks in a speech to a group that has long been critical of him.

WASHINGTON - President Bush sought to strengthen his party's ties to black voters Thursday, telling the NAACP he was saddened that the Republican Party - "the party of Abraham Lincoln" - had become estranged from many African-Americans.

The president, addressing the NAACP after skipping its convention for five years, acknowledged that "racism still lingers in America," and he drew thunderous applause when he urged the Senate to extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Senate did just that later in the day, approving the measure by a vote of 98 to 0.

In a speech that had elements of political outreach and personal reflection, Bush sought to bridge policy differences with black Americans and to show them that their aspirations are his, and his party's.

"For nearly 200 years our nation failed the test of extending the blessings of liberty to African-Americans," Bush told the crowd of more than 2,200. "Taken together, the record placed a stain on America's founding, a stain that we have not yet wiped clean."

Bush lamented the GOP's rocky relations with blacks, and pledged to improve that relationship and work with the NAACP's new leader to achieve common goals.

"It's a lot easier to change a law than to change a human heart," the president said. "And I understand that many African-Americans distrust my political party."

That comment generated loud applause and cheers from the audience, which mostly gave the president a polite, reserved reception.

"I consider it a tragedy that the party of Abraham Lincoln let go of its historical ties with the African-American community," Bush said. "For too long, my party wrote off the African-American vote, and many African-Americans wrote off the Republican Party."

Black support for Republicans in elections has hovered around 10 percent for more than a decade. In 2004, Bush drew 11 percent of the black vote.

With the speech, Bush avoided becoming the first president since Warren G. Harding to refuse to address the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Bush addressed the group in 2000, when he was running for the presidency, but for five years in a row had declined invitations. This year, he said yes, knowing that he would be facing a tough crowd.

During his speech, Bush thanked NAACP chairman Julian Bond for inviting him, even though Bond once referred to the Republican far right as "the Taliban wing," a remark that helped fuel the estrangement between the group and the president.

Relations between the White House and the NAACP, however, have improved since Bruce Gordon became the group's leader.

Gordon, who introduced Bush at the convention, has met with him three times in the year he has headed the civil rights group. That compares with one meeting Bush had with former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume.

"Bruce is a polite guy," Bush said. "I thought what he was going to say, 'It's about time you showed up.' And I'm glad I did."

While the audience was cordial, some NAACP members said they were disappointed the president did not mention the war in Iraq. Others said Bush should have talked more about issues such as education and the economy.

"There was an amazing gap between the aspirations of his speech and the policy behind it. It was so vague," said member Barbara Arnwine.

However, Gordon and other NAACP members said they were impressed.

Douglas Mayers, an NAACP delegate from New York, said he agreed with everything Bush said.

"It was a fantastic speech," he said.

"I think this was a good day," Gordon said of the president's visit. "He said exactly what he should say."

Information from the New York Times, Washington Post and Associated Press was used in this report.

[Last modified July 20, 2006, 23:53:04]